Monday, January 4, 2010

Niagara Tunnel Has a Baby!

But the project could run into problems similar to those encountered by a much-maligned hydro tunnel project in Niagara Falls, Jeanes said. The Niagara Tunnel project is intended to deliver a new water source to the Sir Adam Beck generating station near Queenston, Ont., in an effort to boost energy production.

The cost overruns and construction delays have been blamed in part on the geological complexities of the area.

That's Me! I much-malign the tunnel, and from now on every new underground working shall be compared to this!

I can't see that they will have that much trouble in Ottawa. It's very good rock, blasted by some faults that have looked pretty tight on the surface. Most tunneling can deal with this, but I don't think I'd use a machine. I'd go drill and blast in two stages, with leading pilot holes for the faults.

The major problem will be that a public agency is picking the loser-design-build contractor who will promise the moon.